Stepladder



June 30, 1953 MOALISTER 2,643,808

STEPLADDER Filed April 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HENRY MCALISTER ATT NEY June 30, 1953 H. MOALISTER I 2,643,808

STEPLADDER Filed April 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HENRY Mc ALISTER BY A TTOR NE Y Patented June 36, 1953 STEPLDER Henry McAlistcr, Worcester, Mass. Application April 29, 1950, Serial No. 158,945 1 Claim. (01. 228-17) V This invention relates to stepladders, and more particularly to structures of the type having a pair of steeply inclined front legs which carry a series of horizontal steps therebetween, and a pair of rear legs or other means to form a prop for the front legs.

In stepladders of this type as heretofore constructed, it has been the practice to provide rather narrow steps, usually about four inches in width. To provide wider steps, without considerable overlapping of successive steps, would require a ladder of less steepness, which would occupy much greater space, besides being very inconvenient to use in many respects. These four inch steps are much too narrow to support the feet properly, and it is very tiring to stand on such a ladder for long periods. The shins are frequently bruised by contact with the step next above the one in use. Furthermore, it is not possible to stand sidewise on these narrow steps, although it would be very convenient to dose in many instances if it were feasible.

It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide a stepladder having much wider steps than those usually employed, the construction being such that the angle of inclination of the stepladder is of the usual steepness and the full width of each step is available for use.

t is a further object of the invention to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive stepladder construction having steps which will afford firm support for the feet of a person using the same, without bruising his shins, and making it possible for him to face in any desired direction without danger of slipping or falling.

With these and other objects in View, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claim appended hereto.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a stepladder having two front legs which are suitably propped to slope upwardly and rearwardly, preferably at a steep angle, these legs sup-porting a series of approximately horizontal steps between them. These steps are preferably spaced substantially uniformly one above the other, and they are of sufficient width (from front to rear) to afford ample support for the feet. Because of the steepness of the angle and the width of the steps, each step overlies a considerable portion, say about one-half, of the step therebeneath. Each of the steps, except the lowermost, is divided longitudinally into a front portion and a rear portion. Each of the front portions is pivotally mounted so that it can be swung upwardly and rearwardly when desired, whereby the full width of the step therebeneath will be available for a person to stand thereon and face in any direction without interference. Preferably each front portion is hinged to the corresponding rear portion so that the front portion can be folded back to rest upon the top of the rear portion. The two front legs preferably are slightly inclined toward one another, and the ends of the front portion of each step are arranged at obtuse angles with the front edge thereof, to avoid interference with the legs during the swinging movement of the said front portion. At the upper ends of the legs there is preferably provided a horizontal top platform having a fixed rear portion and a front portion which overlaps about one-half of the upper step therebeneath, this front portion being arranged to be swung upwardly over the rear portion and to the rear thereof. Thus the full width of the upper step and of the top platform will be available for use.

Referring to the drawing illustrating one embodiment of the invention, and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stepladder;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the stepladder;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the stepladder;

Fig. 4. is a section taken on the line 4- 5 of Fig. 2; I i 1' Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the stepladder, with the front portion of the second step folded back; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the stepladder, with the front portion of the top platform folded back. I

The embodiment illustrated comprises a pair of front legs It which slope upwardly and rear- Wardly at a steep angle. These legs are slightly inclined toward one another, as best shown in Fig. 2. The legs H] are considerably wider (from front to rear) than in the usual stepladder, and in order to provide the necessary strength without excessive cost or weight each leg includes a front strip H and a rear strip I 2. These strips are substantially parallel with one another and spaced apart an appreciable distance. They are connected at their lower ends by a block Hi and at their upper ends by a horizontal cleat I 5. The cleats l5 extend rearwardly behind the rear strips l2, and the rear portions of the cleats I 5 are contherebeneathis in use. "of the frontportions 3i! and-32 are pivotally oonnected COWJhGjf'lDDlZXfidQ6S of the corresponding spending rear portions -divided'longitudinally into a a rear portion 49 f substantially--equal=widths. 'Small metal bars 42 are fastened to theopposite ends of the front portion 39 and extend rearwardfly adjac'ent the" end surfaces of the rear portion fiito which the'bars are pivotally attached by "width of the uppermost step able by swinging :the front portion 39 of the platnected by a horizontal rod or bolt [6 to which the upper ends of two rear legs l8 are joined. The rear legs l8 slope upwardly and forwardly at a steep angle, and they are connected to one another by a horizontal strip 19 and by a pair of crossed strips or braces 20 in known manner. Each rear leg I8 is connected to the rear strip E2 of the corresponding front leg by means of a toggle brace 22 of well-known construction. The braces 22 can be collapsed upwardly 'to'permit the rear legs'tobe swung forwardly'against the front legs, when the stepladder is to be stored.

Between the front legs In there is provideda series of horizontal steps 24, 25 and 26 located-at successively higher elevations, step 24 being the lowermost. The ends of these steps are:supported on horizontal cleats 2B fastened to the inner surfaces of the leg strips I (-42. The upper surface of the first step 24 is preferably aboutv twelve inches above the floor, the second step 25 being about-twelves inches above the step and the third step 7 25- being about twelve inches-above the step 25. Each of these steps preferably'h-as a width of approximately eight inches, which is about twice 'the'width of the steps commonly em ployed heretofore in stepiadders of this --general type. It will be noted that-each of the steps-2:;

and-26- overlies a considerable portion (approxi- -mately one-half) of the step next therebeneath.

In order that full usemay be made of-these wide steps, the'step 25 is divided longitudinally into-a front'portion. tfl' and arearportion-M, andthe step 26 is divided longitudinally into-a front-portion-Sifilld arearportion-ISS. The front and rear portions are of approximately the same width. Tharearportions are-suitably xedto the --cleats 28, adapted tobe moved out whereas the front portions are of the way when thestep Preferably the rear edges rearportions- 3 iand- 33' by means ethinges 35. Thus the front portions can be swungupwardly and rearwardly to rest onthetops of the correthat this movement can takeplace withoutinterf erence with the inwardly inclinedlegs IE3, the end surfaces cftheafront portions 38 and-3E of the steps'are shaped toconverge at asmall angle in 'a forward direction, as indicated. particularly at 36-85 in Fig. 4 as to the portion 38. "These end surfaces-are thus positioned at obtuse angleswith the front edges of the steps.

At the--top of the front legs there is provided atop platform 38 which is supported'on the cleats l5. This platform is located about twelve inches above the'uppermost step 2S and overlies approximately one-half the width thereof, the'platform having a width of about eight inches. As'in the case of the steps 25 and front portion- 3 9 and 53 located at the centers of these Withthis construction the full 26 can be made availsingle screws end surfaces.

form 38-upwardly-and rearwardly-to a position -directly behindthe rear portion 40, as shown in Fig. 7. whether the-portion 39 'be positioned'in front of the portion '46 or behind thesame, the i when desired. In order 26, the platform 33 is:

4 platform 38 will still have the same effective width.

It will now be apparent that with the construction as disclosed a workman may stand comfortably and safely on any one of the wide steps or the top platform. His feet will be firmly supported, he will not bruise his shins, and he can face in any desired direction, with his two feet positioned side by side on the step or platform. 'If he wishes to stand :on the lowermost step 2 5, he need merely fold back the front portion 36 of the second step 25, as shown in Fig. 6. If he "wishes to stand on the second step 25, he will leave it in its full Width position and fold back the front portion 32 of the third step 25. If he wishes .toJstand onthe third step 2%, he will leave it in its full Width position and fold back the front portion in either of the positions shown in Fig. 3 or I. .When he is standing on one of the. steps he may usethe .topplatform to support apail, to'olsor the like.

It will be recognized that the invention provides a stepladd-er which is much safer and more comfortable to use than prior constructions. Itis simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and it can be made with as steep an inclination as the usual stepladder, so that it can be used in a restrictedspace.

Having thusidescribed my irniention, what'l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A stepladder comprising 'a' pair of laterally spaced front legs, prop means to support the legs at an upward and rearward inclination, "the legs being slightly inclined toward one another, a series of steps locatedbetwe-en. the legs, the steps being relatively wide so that each step overlies a considerable portion of the step therebeneath, each step except'the lowermost being divided longitudinally into'a rear portion and a front portion, hinge means pivotally connecting each of said front portions to the corresponding rear portion so that the front portion can be swung upwardly and rearwardly to rest on the top of the corresponding rear portion to make substantially the full widthofthe step therebeneathavailable for use, the end surfaces of the hinged front portions of the steps converging in a forward direction at a suiiicient angle to avoid interference with the legs as the front portions are swung upwardly and rearwardly; atopplatform at the top of the legs overlying a considerable portion of the top step'therebeneath, the said platform being divided longitudinally into a rear portion and a front portion, and means pivotally connecting the frontportion of the platform to the rear portion thereof and so constructed that the front portion can'be swungupwardly and rearwardly into a position behind the rear portion and thereby make substantially the full width of the top step available foruse' while retaining the full width of the platform.

HENRY MGALISTER.

References Cited in..the.file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

